Archive for June, 2016

Lionel Andrés Messi, an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club Barcelona and the Argentina national team, and his father Jorge Horacio Messi are accused of using fake companies in Belize and Uruguay to avoid paying taxes on EUR 4.16 million of his income earned through the sale of his image rights from 2007-2009.

Lionel Messi’s former tax advisors came out in support of the 5-time World Player of the Year as his trial for alleged fraud continued in Barcelona, saying he never handled his wealth management.

Juarez, one of the partners at law firm Juarez Veciana which managed Messi’s tax affairs at the time was responsible for creating several companies in Uruguay, then considered a tax haven.

Messi’s father had hired the law firm as he had ongoing disputes with his then advisor who was managing the footballer’s image rights through a company based in Belize.

So, two offshore companies – Jenbril owned by Messi, and Frosyl where his father deposited his commissions as the player’s agent – are the main focus of the investigation.